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Iraqi intelligence warns against militias merger
Iraq's intelligence chief warned in remarks published on Sunday against merging militias with government security forces, saying it would give them an official cover to carry out their activities. Major General Mohammed al-Shahwani contradicted the position of new Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who has vowed to merge powerful militias, which have close ties to ruling political parties, with security forces to get weapons off the streets. "I have reservations about merging militias into security forces because this is not the solution. The solution is to rehabilitate militia members for civil service jobs," he said in an interview with Azzaman newspaper. "Merging the militias means giving their activities an official cover at a time that the government and parliament and political powers are working on making government forces the only groups taking over security activities." Militias are expected to be one of the most explosive issues for Shia Islamist Maliki as he attempts to improve security forces and keep sectarianism out of their ranks. Posted by: Fred 2006-06-12 |
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